Cultural landscape and heritage in the construction of the rural habitat in non-irrigated dry lands of the northeast of Mendoza (Argentina). Case study of Lagunas del Rosario

Abstract

The research studies the cultural landscape of non-irrigated dry lands of northeastern Mendoza (Argentina) focusing on the construction of the rural habitat. The approach to the landscape involves not only the material reality of a territory but also includes the intangible aspects that differentially influence the understanding of the habitat. The objective is to analyze the landscape in the construction of the rural habitat and its consideration as cultural heritage of non-irrigated dry lands. For this purpose, we used a case study and qualitative methodology mainly from direct observation and semi-structured interviews. The results show that the landscape presents changes, where the strategies deployed by the inhabitants to adapt to the territorial dynamics and the diverse material and intangible elements that make up the landscape are evident. Finally, the landscape of Lagunas del Rosario is presented as cultural heritage in dry, non-irrigated lands, where historical and present aspects, both tangible and intangible ones, are combined.